Aidan and Fam - Portland Oregon Autism Family Photographer

Anyone with a special needs child will tell you that the thought of a photo shoot sounds like torture. This is especially true with kids on the spectrum. Children with ASD generally do not make eye contact and struggle to follow directions which can be a challenge for any photographer. That is if you let it be. I have found that the trick is to really let the child lead they session. I stand back and let the parents interact and capture their connection. Yes, ASD kiddos connect strongly... especially with their families.

A few tips for scheduling a session for families with ASD members:

Mini sessions are generally not a good idea. You need more time to relax and let things go sideways and bounce back from them.

Schedule your session at the time of day that your kiddo is generally most cooperative, and know that may not be the case on photo day!

Have realistic expectations for your child's capacity and share those with your photographer before your session.

Bring along his/her favorite things, or plan an activity they would be interested in.

Think about scheduling a session in your home, lifestyle sessions lend themselves well for kids that need to be in a comfortable place.

Bribery is always an option for any session, but especially true for these kids. Be prepared that if you give a child something they probably won't want to put it down for photos. (ie: candy)

Enjoy this session below, which is my 4th with this family. We definitely got lucky with Aidan that day and we was having a great day. I'm not sure who loves and appreciates these more, Mom/Dad or me!